Lightning Makes a Safe Zone in the Earth's Radiation Belts

Without lightning's cleansing effect producing this protective safe zone in Earth's radiation belts, it would be dangerous for satellites. The camera pulls up through the clouds to a view from space. Radio waves from lightning (white glow) travel along the Earth's magnetic field and intercept particles in the safe zone region of the Van Allen Belts (red spiral). The radio waves deflect particles there, causing them to stream down the magnetic field line (blue) and impact Earth's upper atmosphere. This process occurs again until the safe zone is clear (represented by a dimming of the red spiral).

Radio waves from lightning (white glow) travel along the Earth's magnetic field and intercept particles in the safe zone region of the Van Allen Belts (red spiral). The radio waves deflect particles there, causing them to stream down the magnetic field line (blue) and impact Earth's upper atmosphere.

Clearing of the safe zone.

The gap between the two purple areas is the safe zone region of the Van Allen Belts.